Injuries & Moves: Benson (finger) exits after bunt attempt

Injuries & Moves: Benson (finger) exits after bunt attempt

September 12th, 2024

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Sept. 12: OF (left middle finger) exits early after getting hit by a pitch
Benson left Thursday’s game against the Cardinals in the top of the sixth with a left middle finger contusion after he was hit in the hand while attempting to bunt. The Reds later announced that X-rays came back negative.

Benson, who was struck by a 91.7 mph fastball from Cardinals starter Sonny Gray, immediately went down in pain before exiting. It was ruled that Benson made an attempt on the ball, and therefore it was called a strike, so pinch-hitter Amed Rosario took over with an 0-1 count before striking out.

“That was scary,” Reds manager David Bell said postgame. “It got him good. Really good news that there's no fracture. Probably going to be at least a couple days, but [Benson] could avoid the IL, which is great.”

10-DAY/15-DAY IL

RHP (right elbow soreness)
Expected return: September
Greene, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 17 as a precaution after feeling soreness in his elbow, said he felt good after throwing live batting practice on Sept. 11 in St. Louis. Greene threw about 25 pitches. He plans on throwing a longer session on Sept. 14 in Minnesota. The next step after that would be to pitch in a Major League game in Cincinnati during the Reds' Sept. 17-22 homestand.

“My focus has been making sure that my mindset continues to be me versus you,” Greene said. “I think that's really important when you're going through this process, is keeping that competitive mind and being able to kind of close that gap of, you know, kind of that feeling of being out for a month and not gracing a big league mound.” (Last updated: Sept. 11)

LHP (left middle finger sprain)
Expected return: Possibly late September
Lodolo, who went on the injured list on Aug. 27, plans to meet the Reds in Minnesota on Sept. 13 after feeling a big improvement in his finger on Sept. 11 If he can bend his finger “all the way,” then Lodolo is going to start throwing, according to manager David Bell. Lodolo has had four different stints on the IL this season with four different injuries. (Last updated: Sept. 11)

LHP (left shoulder impingement)
Expected return: TBD
Moll has been dealing with the shoulder injury since mid-June, but it worsened on Sept. 6, when it started to hurt while he was warming up in the bullpen. Though Moll felt well enough to enter a Sept. 7 game against the Mets, he did not retire any of the three batters he faced before landing on the IL the following day. (Last updated: Sept. 8)

LHP (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: September
Abbott was cleared to begin a throwing program on Sept. 4. The left-hander was scratched from his Aug. 23 start in Pittsburgh and placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Aug. 20. The club is hoping that Abbott will return before the season ends. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

1B/DH (fractured left big toe)
Expected return: TBD
Candelario is still experiencing discomfort in his toe and has been limited to rehabilitation only, manager David Bell said on Sept. 5. Candelario was injured when he got hit by a pitch on Aug. 18 vs. the Royals, but when the pain persisted the following day in Toronto, X-rays taken on Aug. 19 revealed the fracture. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

60-DAY IL

2B (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Potentially September
McLain did not end up receiving injections for persistent soreness in his side from a ribcage stress reaction, manager David Bell said on Sept. 5. However, McLain is now pain free, and he was cleared to work his way back to baseball activity and see how he progresses. McLain is trying to come back from March surgery that repaired the labrum and cartilage damage in his shoulder. Although time is running out in the 2024 season, the club has not officially ruled him out from returning. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

RHP (right elbow strain)
Expected return: 2025
Ashcraft is scheduled to begin throwing off a mound on Sept. 17, with the goal of having him face hitters in live batting practice in early October. There are no plans for Ashcraft to get into fall or winter ball games. The club just wants him to face hitters before going into a normal offseason routine. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

RHP (right forearm strain/right calf strain)
Expected return: Potentially September
Gibaut is targeted to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 15. Gibaut underwent surgery on May 9 to relieve a compression in a forearm nerve called the anterior interosseous nerve, or AIN. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

OF (torn left thumb ligament)
Expected return: 2025
Fairchild has had season-ending surgery to repair the torn ligament. He is scheduled to remain in Cincinnati for rehab until Sept. 22, then head to Arizona to continue the process. The expectation is that Fairchild will be healthy in time for Spring Training next year. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

1B (right hand fracture)
Expected return: 2025
Encarnacion-Strand began baseball activities on Sept. 4 and is scheduled for a follow-up exam with his hand surgeon on Sept. 16 to check his progress. He underwent surgery on July 11 to repair ligament damage in his hand. Encarnacion-Strand was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture on the inside of his hand near his wrist on May 8, and he also has ligament damage in the same area. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

OF (left thumb sprain)
Expected return: September
Martini, who had surgery on July 9 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside his thumb, began hitting in batting practice on the field on Sept. 4. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 17. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

C (right teres major tear)
Expected return: Possibly late September
Wynns has been throwing to bases, and he is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 17. He was injured trying to make a throw to third base against the Rays on July 28. (Last updated: Sept. 5)

RHP (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Antone, who had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and arm surgery to repair tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon on April 12, has been working out near his home in Texas, lifting weights and undergoing physical therapy. Reporting that he has been feeling good and is not in pain, Antone is scheduled to undergo MRI and ultrasound exams in October to check on his progress. If all goes well, Antone could be cleared to begin throwing with weighted plyo training balls. (Last updated: Sept. 4)

SS (left shoulder surgery; No. 3 on Reds' top prospect list, No. 69 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Arroyo, who is out for the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder during Spring Training, is starting a game progression at the team's spring complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He has also been tapped to participate in the Arizona Fall League.

In a March 13 Cactus League game vs. the Giants, the 21-year-old Arroyo was injured diving back to first base on a pickoff throw. (Last updated: Sept. 2)

RHP (right shoulder sprain)
Expected return: 2025
Roa has yet to make his big league debut, but he was called up and placed on the 60-day IL on Aug. 19 to free up a spot on the 40-man roster when the Reds selected righty Julian Aguiar's contract. The 25-year-old Roa has been sidelined since Aug. 11 due to a shoulder sprain. He owns a 5.55 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and 23 appearances (four starts) with Triple-A Louisville this season. (Last updated: Aug. 19)

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